The City of Charlottetown’s Water and Sewer workers have been without a contract for over two and half years. They have been pushed to strike to defend job security, fair wages and respectful negotiations.
The employer is trying to strip away job security clauses that already exist in the collective agreement to protect these workers. These types of attempts only serve to move backwards in term of workers rights. Labor rights progress should build futures, not break job security.
The City of Charlottetown’s messaging misleads the public to believe that a wage increase would be fiscally irresponsible. The wage increases the workers are asking for will only cost an additional 26,440$. To put it into perspective, the City and the Water and Sewer Corporation recorded 4 consecutive operational budget surpluses of over $18 million from 2020 to 2024. These workers provide top quality services. This work should be reflected in their wages.
These dedicated workers care deeply about the residents and the services they provide them and want to get back to work. Join CUPE in asking the City of Charlottetown to come back to the bargaining table with a fair and reasonable offer.